---
title: "SolidWorks Installation Common Issues & Troubleshooting"
canonical: "https://tech.calpoly.edu/space/CPKB/1823375361/SolidWorks%20Installation%20Common%20Issues%20%26%20Troubleshooting"
format: markdown
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Cal Poly Service Desk staff sometimes run into common issues and will share Solidworks troubleshooting information in this section. 

> ℹ️ Cal Poly Service Desk staff have reported that the [installation](https://calpoly.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CPKB/pages/1706393643) could take **approximately 30 minutes** to complete from start to finish on average. Please be sure to plan accordingly to avoid interruption/errors...

<details>
<summary>If SolidWorks Shows as Not Activated When Opened...(Windows)</summary>

1. Open the **SolidWorksSetup.exe** file from the initial SolidWorks download.   
   *– You can download this from **[software.calpoly.edu](http://software.calpoly.edu/)** if you can’t find it). Unzip when prompted. *  
*   – If the error window opens with the message “A Windows reboot is pending from a previous installation…”, just   ****press OK***
2. Select **Modify your installation** and click **Next**.
3. Make sure the correct serial number is shown. It should end in **7RCH**.   
   *– The entire serial number can be found on **[software.calpoly.edu](http://software.calpoly.edu/)**.*
4. Continue through the rest of the Installation Manager, nothing else should change. Click **Modify Now** on the final page.   
   *– An error message should appear with a specific file path, something like C:\Users\user\Documents*.
  
5. Navigate to the file path in File Explorer and open the SOLIDWORKS 202X SPXX folder.
  
6. Right-click on **swdata99.id **and rename it to **swdata99.txt.**  
   *– Under the ****View tab ****in File Explorer, you may need to check ****File name extensions**** before you can do this.*
  
7. Open **swdata99.txt** and change the text so that it reads **SOLIDWORKS 202X SPXX.XX**.
  *(The above screenshot is for example. The actual version number may vary.)*
8. **Save **the file (File > Save), **close** it, and **rename** the swdata99.txt file back to swdata99.id
9. Go back to the installation manager and click **Modify Now** again.   
  * – You may have to restart the Installation Manager for it to go through (redo steps 1 through 5).*
10. **Open SolidWorks**.* It should now be activated.*
</details>

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